Goods containers

ABSTRACT

A goods container for both longitudinal and transverse rollertrack handling. The container has a hinged bottom between two side walls, said bottom being foldable upwardly against a wall between said two side walls or against any one of the side walls and being provided with one or more substantially continuously extending rails at the underside of the bottom for coaction with the rollers of a roller track.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,91 1,826

Nilsson Oct. 14, 1975 [5 GOODS CONTAINERS 3,522,954 8/1970 Locke 280 3399 T 3,768,4l6 10 1973 J ht 104 l [75] Inventor: Alvar Erling Nilsson, Falkenberg, uec er 35 Sweden 1 Primary ExaminrLloyd L. King [73] Assignee. Pelly AB, Falkenberg, Sweden Assistant Examiner D. W Keen [22] Filed: June 6, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBucknam and Archer [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 15, 1973 Sweden 73084410 A goods containerfor both longitudinal and transverse roller-track handling. The container has a hinged bot- 52 US. Cl 104/135; 108/53; 280/3399 T tom between two Side Walls, Said bottom being fold- 51 Int. cl. A63G 21/00 able p y against a Wall between Said two Side [58] Field of Search 108/53; 280/3399 T; walls or against any we of the Side walls and being 04 35 provided with one or more substantially continuously extending rails at the underside of the bottom for co- [56] References Cited action with the rollers of a roller track.

UNITED TATE PATENTS S s 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 3,140,673 7/1964 Williams 108/53 w H I v H 1 I L: T T 4 T 3 1 L1\.l :d O O n) 1 :g i l 11- L-.F- 1 [1 g :1 I [I ,5 o I fi I 1 0 I l L 1; -76

a 1' 91 i fi w 0 =======1==3 "5 I' 8 1+ 1, F 'I' l J E 7 r; F 1| 7 I L 1 Q l: L 1 |L I .---.1- --.-ra 4 US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of6 3,911,826

U.S. Pate rit Oct. 14, 1975 sheet 2 of 6 3,911,826

Sheet 5 of 6 US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 U.S. Pat'ent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,911,826

FIGS

GOODS CONTAINERS This invention relates to a goods container for rollertrack handling, having one or more side walls and a hinged bottom which permits being folded upwardly against the rear wall or any one of the side walls.

At present, numerous goods containers having hinged bottoms and side walls are available on the market. These types are designed so as to permit nesting of two or more empty containers for space saving purposes. In many material handling systems it is also desired that such goods containers can be conveyed on roller tracks.

The present invention has for its object to provide a goods container having a hinged bottom that permits roller-track handling of the container.

To this end, one or more substantially continuously extending rails are provided at the underside of the bottom for coaction with the rollers of a roller track.

The invention will be more fully described hereinbelow and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bottom for a goods container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bottom shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial end view of a bottom and a goods container in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of a bottom for a goods container according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view as seen from the left in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5.

As is illustrated more in detail in FIG. 4 a bottom designed in conformity with the present invention is useful in a per se known conventional goods container having a fixed rear wall 1 (only part of said rear wall is shown in FIG. 4), at least two side walls hinged to the rear wall 1, optionally a front wall hinged to any one of the side walls, and four wheels 2. Only two wheels are shown in FIG. 4 mounted to mounting plates 3 secured to the lower part of the rear wall 1. The other two wheels (not shown in FIG. 4) are mounted on substantially identical mounting panels which are secured to the side walls at the underside of their lower corners remote from the rear wall 1. Moreover, two hinges 4 and 5 are shown in FIG. 4. These hinges are provided for hinged mounting of the bottom 6 of the goods container, as is illustrated more in detail in FIGS. 1-3.

The design of the bottom for the goods container is shown more in detail in FIGS. l3. The bottom 6 is a pressed metal sheet which is provided on its upper side with strengthening ribs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which extend longitudinally of the bottom 6. FIGS. l-3 also show parts of the hinges 4 and 5. It should be observed that the hinges 4 and 5 are arranged so as to allow a certain radial movement or a certain play for taking up small movements between the bottom 6 and the goods container proper.

In conventional goods containers having hinged side walls the wheels mounted to the side walls are often arranged on mounting panels identical with the panels 3 in FIG. 4 which present a flange bent at right angles to the horizontal metal sheet and adapted to cooperate with a pawl 13 at the bottom 6. Two bracing profile members 14 and 15 are provided at the underside of the bottom 6. These bracing profile members 14 and 15 are substantially identical, but mirror-reversed. A shaft 16 extends between the bracing members and a latch plate (not shown) is mounted to said shaft and arranged, in the upwardly folded position of the bottom 6 to coact with a pawl at the lower part of the rear wall 1. When the bottom 6 occupies its lower position the side walls are latched by means of the pawls 13 and the latch plate is lowered between the bracing profile members 14 and 15. At the pawls 13 the bracing members have a recess 17 which serves to accommodate the wheel mounting panel on the side wall. By this arrangement, one or more rollers of a roller track will be engaged by the wheel mounting panels on the side walls of the goods container and by the bracing 14 and 15 at the underside of the bottom 6. As a result, the bottom 6 will not be folded upwardly when the goods container is handled on a roller track.

As illustrated more in detail in FIG. 4, the bracing profile members 14 and 15 extend some distance downwardly beyond the wheel mounting panels 3 to ensure engagement between the bracing profile members and the rollers of a roller track.

Further, each bracing profile member 14, 15 has a recess 18 adjacent the shaft 16. This recess 18 serves to accommodate parts of the lower edge of the rear wall 1.

In FIGS. 5-8 identical parts carry the same reference numerals. These figures show an embodiment of a bottom according to the present invention which is intended for a principally identical goods container as that in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4. It should be observed, however, that as distinct from the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4 the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 permits roller-track handling of the goods container both longitudinally and transversely. Attention is, however, called to the fact that the bottom construction according to FIGS. 14 can very well be modified for transverse roller-track handling of the goods container. In principle, the bottom design illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 shall be given the same construction in both transverse direction and longitudinal direction.

FIG. 6 shows by full lines rollers or wheels 20 in a roller track for handling goods containers in the transverse direction and by dash-and-dot lines rollers or wheels 21 in a roller track for handling goods containers in the longitudinal direction, while FIG. 8 shows by dash-and-dot lines a roller 20 in the transverse roller track and by full lines a roller 21 in the longitudinal roller track.

Same as the goods container shown in FIGS. l-4 the goods container illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 has a fixed rear wall 22 and two hingedly mounted side walls 23 and 24. The walls 21 to 23 can have any desired height whatsoever, for which reason only the parts of the walls closest to the bottom are shown. Moreover, a front wall may be provided opposite the rear wall 22. Of course, the front wall may be detachable altogether or hinged to one of the side walls. In this embodiment also the bottom 25 is a pressed metal sheet which like in the earlier embodiment may be provided with pawls for coaction with flanges or like means on wheel mounting panels 26 and 27 which are secured to the hingedly mounted side walls 23 and 24, respectively. The rear wall 22 is fixedly mounted on a frame portion 28 extending along the lower edge of the rear wall, and the bottom 24 is hinged to said frame portion 28 by hinges 29 in the same way as the bottom 6 in the earlier embodiment. Caster-type wheels 30 and 31 are mounted to the wheel mounting panels 26 and 27, and fixed wheels 32 and 33 are mounted to the ends of the frame portion 28.

As will appear most clearly from FIG. 5, two longitudinal profile members 34 and 35 are provided at the underside of the bottom 25 to form two rails extending longitudinally of the bottom and coacting with the rollers or wheels 21 of a roller track. Moreover, further profile members 36, 37, 38 and 39, 40, 41 extend transversely of the bottom 25, and of these the profile members 39 and 40 interconnect the two longitudinal profile members 34 and 35, while the profile members 36, 38 and 39, 40 project from the longitudinal profile members 34 and 35 to the edge of the bottom 25 in alignment with the profile members 37 and 40 so that two transverse rails are formed. The profile members 34 to 41 shall of course be of the same height so that the rails lie in the same plane. At the edges of the bottom 25 all profile members 34, 35, 36, 38, 39 and 41 extending up to said edges are bent to make an angle a of about 20. This angular arrangement of the edge portions of the profile members facilitates moving the goods container on the roller tracks.

The roller tracks are of a per se known construction, for which reason only parts of them are shown. In FIG. 6 a roller track for transverse handling of the goods container is exemplified by two wheels 20 disposed on one and the same axle 42 which is mounted in holders 43 and 44. The roller track for handling the goods container on the longitudinal rails 34 and 35 is of the same principle and has rollers or wheels 21 disposed on an axle 45 which is mounted in holders 46 and 47.

As will appear most clearly from FIG. 5, a collar 48, 49, 50 and 51 is provided around each wheel 30, 31, 32 and 33. All collars are substantially of identical configuration and secured to the rail-forming profile members 34 to 41 arranged at the underside of the bottom 25. The collars serve to steer the goods container on the respective roller track. To facilitate steering the goods container onto the roller track the collars 48 to 51 are rounded at the entrances to the rails. Moreover, the collar surfaces facing the rail are oblique to the rail surface at an angle [3 of about 20 to reduce the surface of contact between the rollers and the collars.

In order that the movement between the bottom 25 and the walls 23 and 24 of the goods container shall be as small as possible when the goods container is moving on a roller track, a latching device 52 may be provided between the bottom 25 and one or both walls 23, 24. Said latching device is shown more in detail in FIGS. and 7 and consists of a latching piston 55 which is urged to the position illustrated in the drawings by a spring 53 via a screw 54. The latching piston 55 is guided in a groove-forming means 56 which is secured to the bottom 25 at one front corner thereof. The latching device 52 serves to retain the bottom 25 in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 and it can be utilized to keep the bottom in an upwardly folded position in which the latching piston 55 extends in between the edge of the side wall 23 closest to the rear wall 22 and said rear wall 22 proper. With the bottom 25 in this position it is possible to swing the side walls 23 to a position in which empty goods containers can be nested in each other. Of course, there may be provided a further latching device at the other front corner of the bottom for coaction with the other side wall 24. The latching device 52 need not of course be situated right at the front edge of the bottom but can be placed at some appropriate point along the edge facing the side wall.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A container for carrying goods and adapted for movement along a roller track, which comprises at least one side wall and a rear wall, a hingedly supported bottom which can be pivoted upwardly against one of said rear and side walls, said bottom having on the underside thereof extended rails positioned for co-action with corresponding rollers of a roller track to accommodate movement of the container therealong, a plurality of wheel mounting plates connected to said bottom at respective corner regions thereof, sections of at least two of said rails extending in level relation with said wheel mounting plates whereby at least one of the rollers of the roller tract can co-act with at least one of said rails and at least one of said wheel mounting plates at the same time to facilitate entry of the container onto the roller track.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said bottom has at least two rails extending in a longitudinal direction and at least two rails extending in a transverse direction to accommodate movement of the continer alternatively along a roller tract extending along said longitudinal direction or upon a roller track extending along said transverse direction.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein parts of the longitudinally extending rails and parts of the transversely extending rails are positioned at angles with relation to one another which enclose the wheel mounting plates.

4. A container according to claim 3 wherein said rail parts are in the form of recessed portions of said rails.

5. A container as set forth in claim 4 including a roller arranged around each recessed portion, and a latch attached to secure said bottom in a downward position.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein said latch is positioned on the bottom of the container to extend beneath the lower edge of a side wall when the bottom is in said downward position, and to extend in between an edge of said side wall and a part to which the side wall is hinged when the bottom is in an upwardly pivotted position.

7. A container according to claim 1 including hinges connecting said bottom to one of said side walls and accommodating radial movement of said bottom.

8. A container according to claim 1 wherein the length of the wheel mounting plates measure longitudinally with respect to the roller tract is at least equal to the'central spacing distance of successive rollers of the roller tract and the distance between wheel mounting plates located each on one side of the roller track and opposite one another is less than the distance between the outer end faces of the rollers of the roller track. 

1. A container for carrying goods and adapted for movement along a roller track, which comprises at least one side wall and a rear wall, a hingedly supported bottom which can be pivotted upwardly against one of said rear and side walls, said bottom having on the underside thereof extended rails positioned for co-action with corresponding rollers of a roller track to accommodate movement of the container therealong, a plurality of wheel mounting plates connected to said bottom at respective corner regions thereof, sections of at least two of said rails extending in level relation with said wheel mounting plates whereby at least one of the rollers of the roller tract can co-act with at least one of said rails and at least one of said wheel mounting plates at the same time to facilitate entry of the container onto the roller track.
 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein said bottom has at least two rails extending in a longitudinal direction and at least two rails extending in a transverse direction to accommodate movement of the continer alternatively along a roller tract extending along said longitudinal direction or upon a roller track extending along said transverse direction.
 3. A container according to claim 2 wherein parts of the longitudinally extending rails and parts of the transversely extending rails are positioned at angles with relation to one another which enclose the wheel mounting plates.
 4. A container according to claim 3 wherein said rail parts are in the form of recessed portions of said rails.
 5. A container as set forth in claim 4 including a roller arranged around each recessed portion, and a latch attached to secure said bottom in a downward position.
 6. A container according to claim 5 wherein said latch is positioned on the bottom of the container to extend beneath the lower edge of a side wall when the bottom is in said downward position, and to extend in between an edge of said side wall and a part to which the side wall is hinged when the bottom is in an upwardly pivotted position.
 7. A container according to claim 1 including hinges connecting said bottom to one of said side walls and accommodating radial movement of said bottom.
 8. A container according to claim 1 wherein the length of the wheel mounting plates measure longitudinally with respect to the roller tract is at least equal to the central spacing distance of successive rollers of the roller tract and the distance between wheel mounting plates located each on one side of the roller track and opposite one another is less than the distance between the outer end faces of the rollers of the roller track. 